Lock ring groove support for dual tire rims

Abstract

A dual rim assembly structure adapted to reduce cracking of gutter bands. An annular support wedge is disposed against an inclined surface to provide support under the lock-ring groove and reduce bending forces in the gutter band of each rim. A cylindrical spacer having annular tapered edges defines the support wedges. The spacer is disposed between the dual rim assemblies so that when the outer rim assembly is fixed to the hub, a lateral force is applied which forces the wedges of the spacer into engagement with the respective inclined surfaces of the gutter bands, thereby supporting both the inner and outer rim assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a dual tire rim assembly adapted for mounting on a wheel hub, each rim assembly being of the type having at least one annular sidewall flange removable for mounting and demounting a tire from a respective said rim, a grooved gutter band, and an annular lock ring engageable with a groove on the respective gutter band for locking the sidewall flange to the respective rim assembly, inner and outer annular inclined surfaces on each said gutter band, the improvement comprising, an annular spacer having opposing annular edges each constructed as a rigid support wedge, the spacer being disposed between said rim assemblies, said opposing annular support wedges of said spacer being wedged between the respective inner inclined surfaces of said gutter bands and a portion of the hub during mounting of said rim assemblies to said hub, and said outer inclined surfaces of each said gutter band being engageable with other inclined structures to thereby fix said rim assemblies with respect to said hub, each said gutter band and the associated rim being fixed with respect to the hub by being forced radially outwardly by wedge action of said annular support wedges between the respective inner inclined surfaces of the gutter bands and the hub and by the engagement of said other inclined structures with the respective outer inclined surfaces of the gutter bands. 
     
     
       2. The improved dual rim assembly of claim 1, wherein said spacer is split. 
     
     
       3. The improved dual rim assembly of claim 1, wherein each said annular support wedge is split. 
     
     
       4. A dual tire rim assembly adapted for mounting to a hub, comprising: a rim member associated with each said rim assembly for supporting a respective inflatable tire, each said rim member having mountable along one annular edge thereof a gutter band with an annular lock-ring groove and inner and outer opposing annular inclined surface, said inner inclined surface of each said gutter band defining a surface to which a wedging force is applied to provide support to the lock ring groove;   a pair of opposing annular side-ring flanges associated with each said rim assembly for providing lateral support to respective tire beads;   an annular bead seat band associated with each said rim assembly, and having a flanged edge for laterally supporting a respective said side-ring flange;   a pair of lock rings, each having an annular lip mateable with the annular groove of a respective said gutter band, said lock rings each having a surface adapted for bearing against a respective said bead seat band to laterally support each said bead seat band; and   an annular cylindrical spacer having annular edges each defining a rigid support wedge, each said support wedge being wedgeable against a respective inner inclined surface of the gutter bands so that when an opposing axial wedging force is applied to the outer inclined surfaces of the respective gutter bands during mounting to said hub, the spacer is compressed between said rim assemblies, and the inner and outer inclined surface of each said gutter band wedges with a respective said rigid support wedge and said axial wedging force, thereby supporting said gutter bands and fixing each said rim assembly to said hub.   
     
     
       5. The dual tire rim assembly of claim 4, wherein each said support wedge comprises an annular structure with a break therein, and said rigid spacer bears against each said support wedge to thereby anchor said support wedges with respect to said hub. 
     
     
       6. The dual tire rim assembly of claim 4, wherein the rigid spacer is split. 
     
     
       7. A method for reducing metal fatigue is respective gutter band edges of dual rim assemblies of the type having respective removable sidewall flanges and lock rings engageable in an annular groove in the respective gutter bands, and each rim assembly having an inner inclined surface generally under the lock ring groove, and an outer inclined surface opposing the respective inner inclined surface, comprising the steps of: providing an annular spacer structure having opposing rigid annular wedges encircleable about a hub to which said rim assemblies are to be mounted;   disposing the annular spacer structure between the rim assemblies around the hub and in engagement therewith so that when each said rim assembly is axially forced together on the hub and the rigid annular wedges are compressed and wedged between the hub and the respective inner annular inclined surfaces of the gutter bands;   forcing the opposing rigid annular wedges under the respective inner inclined surfaces of said rim assemblies so that each said rigid annular wedge engages with a respective said gutter band inner inclined surface and provides support against radial inward movement with respect to said lock-ring grooves; and   maintaining a wedging force on said opposing rigid annular wedges by way of bolts and other outer wedge structures to maintain each said rim assembly fixed to said hub through wedging action of the respective inner inclined surfaces of said rim assemblies and the rigid annular wedges of the annular spacer, and the outer inclined surfaces of the rim assemblies and the other outer wedge structures.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, further including forming in each rigid annular wedge a split to accommodate a radial change in dimension. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7, further including forming said spacer rigid for maintaining said dual rims separated, and forming said rigid annular wedges around opposing edges of said spacer. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 7, further including supporting the inner said rim assembly by a first wedging action between the hub and the inner rim assembly where said hub defines one said other outer wedge structure, and a second wedging action between the inner rim assembly and the rigid annular wedge associated with said annular spacer structure. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, further including supporting the outer said rim assembly by a first wedging action between said outer rim assembly the rigid annular wedge associated with said annular spacer structure, and a second wedging action between said outer rim assembly and a mounting wedge defining the other outer wedge structure which is threadably anchored to said hub by said bolts to draw the outer rim assembly toward the inner rim assembly with the annular spacer structure compressively held therebetween.